Papa Clem wins Derby

ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Papa Clem won the Arkansas Derby, holding off Old Fashioned in the stretch to hand the one-time Kentucky Derby favorite his second straight defeat at Oaklawn Park.

Old Fashioned broke toward the front immediately and held the lead for a while, but Papa Clem took command just after the second turn in the 11‚Ñ8-mile race Saturday. Old Fashioned fought back gamely along the rail but came up about a half-length short.

Old Fashioned was unbeaten before his first loss in the Rebel Stakes last month.

Papa Clem, with Rafael Bejarano aboard, won for the first time since December. The colt is trained by Gary Stute. After winning the $1 million Arkansas Derby, Papa Clem is assured of enough graded stakes earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby in three weeks.

A son of Smart Strike, Papa Clem paid $10 on a $2 win ticket.

Long shot Summer Bird closed impressively to take third.

Old Fashioned, trained by Larry Jones, began the year on everybody’s list of top 3-year-olds. He finished second in the Rebel to 56-1 shot Win Willy, but the pace was difficult in that race, and he didn’t have enough left in the stretch.

Blue Grass Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. — General Quarters is heading home to the Kentucky Derby.

The 3-year-old colt overtook pacesetter Join in the Dance at the top of the stretch, then held off favorite Hold Me Back by 11‚Ñ2 lengths to win the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

General Quarters, owned and trained by retired Louisville principal Thomas McCarthy and ridden by Eibar Coa, covered the 11‚Ñ8 miles on Keeneland’s Polytrack in 1:49.26 and paid $30.60, $11 and $7.

“I think he exhibited the tenacity to go on to the Derby,” said McCarthy.

Did he ever.

General Quarters struggled in his last start, a disappointing fifth-place in the Tampa Bay Derby last month when he seemed rattled by running in traffic.

Coa, making his first start aboard General Quarters, made sure his mount didn’t get too dirty this time. He pushed forward early, just off the shoulder of Join in the Dance. He stalked the leader on the backstretch and made his move at the turn, pulling ahead at the top of the stretch then digging in when Hold Me Back started to close.

“He was very professional today,” Coa said. “He showed today he’s going to be ready for (the Derby).”

Hold Me Back rallied six wide in the stretch but couldn’t duplicate the magnificent move that propelled him to victory in the Lane’s End three weeks ago and paid $4.20 and $3.

Massone was third and paid $7.20 in one of the final prep races for next month’s Derby — a race that will probably go on without Mafaaz.

The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.